Just Hudson

(Starting to stand up-I love his facial expression here)

(I love this.)

(sleep, my little angel)

(Where's your belly button, Hudson?)

Hudson's First Step, Step, Steps!

I Flit, I Float

Lately we've been enjoying the, shall I say, intoxicating aroma, of the lilacs

as well as the many butterflies and hummingbird moths coming to visit.

(monarch)

There are dozens of butterflies flitting and fluttering around this large bush (it's over 10 feet tall) most of the day.

(monarchs)

Sometimes we just stand there, silent and watching. Listening to the hushed sounds of the wings.

(yellow swallowtail)

(hummingbird moth-photo not ours)

Joel tried to get a picture of the hummingbird moths, but as I came back out with a camera they were gone.

The picture above is pretty close to what we saw. They look almost exactly like hummingbirds, except for the antennae and they are not scared easily. Joel was about 4 inches away from a moth as it happily suckled away at the purple flowers.

(mourning cloak)

(red admiral)

(painted lady- these are fiesty bugs! As I watch-these are the ones picking fights with the other butterflies and they don't give up either! I watched one fight last close to a minute as two painted ladies duked it out!)

As I watch all these beautiful butterflies, it's not much different when I watch our kiddos play...

(Joshua, Rachel, Hudson planting "trees")

(Rachel pausing for a photo)

Kids flutter around just like butterflies, though maybe not quite as quietly.

(Hudson in the wood shed)

Though kids and butterflies may fight, kids are by far more fun and helpful.

(Here they are- four kids, three of them helped stack wood. All the wood you see behind them...they did that!)

(Hudson of course, helped too, just in his own way)

(Joshua or monkey?)

(cute kids, dirty pajamas, hard workers!)

(Coach Janice assisting Rachel at the tee. Both Joshua and Rachel are in T-ball this year. At first base is Joshua, Madelynn and Joel.)

(Goofy Madelynn)

(The wagon has been put to good use this year. Mostly as a water holder, bathtub, and "chocolate milk" maker.)

(Madelynn has graduated to a big swing this year)

Happy Spring Everyone! 

Just A Thank You

Joel and I would like to give our readers a humble thank you. Thank you for reading the posts about Emily and thank you to those who have supported us, prayed for us, and loved us. This has been a long journey and yet it feels like it has only begun.


I must admit that holding Emily close in my heart was preventing much needed healing. To myself and to others. I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to share Emily with my kids, with my dear friends, and with you.


As a result, these past few weeks I have found myself being less irritable and more calm with the kids. My heart has been lighter and I have had more energy. 


I have no regrets being open and honest with Emily and her story. I have felt only relief and peace. Like a great weight suddenly being lifted and gone. 


Our prayer is that Emily's life will encourage and point you to Jesus, just as she has for us.

Emily's Heaven Day

Yes Emily died. But just like Jesus, she was resurrected, into heaven, with Jesus. And that my friends, is why Joel and I can grieve with hope. 
We can cry and smile at the same time.

We can weep and have peace in the same moment.
Emily Grace, along with thousands of others, are alive, they are not dead.
They are in paradise.
They are laughing, smiling, praising the Awesome Creator of the Universe.
And they love Him.

Joel holding Madelynn, June 2009, at the grave site.

God consoles His suffering people, and His consolations, which are proportioned to the nature and degree of their suffering, shall surely appear to all who stick to His truth and trust Him with their souls. It is a demonstration of the faithfulness of God to those that, suffering according to His will, do commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
(I Peter 4:19 NKJV)

::The Following Pictures are taken at Emily's grave side May 2012::

Four children helping their Mommy and Daddy clean up Emily's  grave site, while the June berry tree blossoms.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 

(Psalm 116:15 NKJV)

Hudson helping Daddy

Mourn not ye, whose child hath found

purer skies and holier ground;

Flowers of bright and pleasant hue,

Free from thorns, and fresh with dew.

Mourn not ye, whose child hath fled

From this region of the dead,

To yon winged angel-band,

To a better, fairer land.

Knowledge in that clime doth grow

Free from weeds of toil and woe,

Joys which mortals may not share;

Mourn ye not, your child is there.

-Lydia H. Sigourney

Madelynn smiling

"Oh troubled heart, be still and learn that no selfishness can be in love; that he who loves his Master withholds nothing when He has need of it; and he who loves his child will sink all sense of loss in the everlasting gain of lying safe upon the bosom of the Shepherd."

-Benjamin M. Palmer, 1818-1902, buried five of six children

 Joshua, Rachel, Hudson making 'creeping phlox angels'

Thus says the Lord: 'I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth...The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.'
Zechariah 8:3,5 NKJV

A square on Emily's quilt

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
Revelation 21:4 NKJV

"This is Not The End" by Gungor

Lyrics:

This is not the end
This is not the end of this
We will open our eyes wide, wider

This is not our last
This is not our last breath
We will open our mouths wide, wider

And you know you’ll be alright
Oh and you know you’ll be alright

This is not the end
This is not the end of us
We will shine like the stars bright, brighter

~

And her Daddy has the last word::

Resurrection Morn

by Joel 

Now that I've held death in my arms.

Now that my own flesh and blood has grown cold.

Now that I've seen a soul move on,

leaving behind a little body and a little less of me.

Now that I've seen the heavenly slip away....

Nothings left when the heavenly slips away.

Now that I've seen...

What would've it been like to be there on a hill outside of Jerusalem?

When the earth shuddered and the sky rolled and on the cross hung the One who made it all?

He made the hands that beat Him.

He made the tongues that cursed Him over and over.

He made the nails that pierced His wrists.

He made the thorns that crowned His bloody head.

The Author of Life wrote His death. He wrote in His own blood.

And the Light of the world was extinguished.

And what is a world without the One by whom it is made?

No there's nothing left when the heavenly slips away.

Oh for the resurrection morn!

Oh for the first light of dawn!

All would be lost it that'd been all;

if death could keep a hold on God

Enter the tomb. Pass the stone rolled away.

He is not here. He is risen from the dead!

Oh for the resurrection morn! (Where would we be?)

Oh for the first light of dawn! (Come Lord Jesus come)